Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 61897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“Ready?” he asked.
“I guess,” I said.
“This is the easy part.”
“Why’s that?”
He looked at me, leaning closer. I felt my heart begin to beat fast. “In there, it’s just you and me. We don’t have to lie.”
“It’ll be lying when I say, ‘I do,’” I said.
“Maybe.” He was so close to me, and I wasn’t sure why. “But maybe not.”
“Nash,” I said, but the cab pulled over.
“Let’s go,” he said, moving away. I watched him step out of the cab as I slowly regained my ability to breathe.
I followed him out of the car. He paid the driver and we walked together up the steps of a small white chapel.
Inside, he walked up to the receptionist. “We’re the Bell party, ready to get married.”
She smiled widely. “Mister Bell, welcome. We’re almost ready for you, if you want to wait just over there.” She gestured to a small waiting room.
We sat down in the chairs, getting comfortable. The place looked half like a doctor’s office and half like a church. There were prices and menus on the walls, but also testaments to the sanctity of marriage and bible verses. It didn’t look seedy though, like I’d thought it might. It was comfortable and clean, and the receptionist was pretty in a bland sort of way.
“Been here before?” I asked him.
“Nah,” he said. “First time in a chapel like this.”
“How’d you choose this one?”
He shrugged. “Googled it. Took the first one.”
“It’s nice.”
He grinned at me. “Nothing but the best for my wife.”
I looked away, breathing deeply.
This was it. We were finally in the chapel and I was actually going through with it. I was really going to stand up there and say the words and marry this man. And I didn’t know him at all.
Suddenly, he put his hand on my leg. “Relax,” he whispered. “Take deep breaths.”
I stared at him. “What?”
“You look like you’re about to pass out,” he said, his voice deep and close. “Take a deep breath and calm yourself.”
I breathed deep, focusing on the feeling of his hand on my thigh. I realized that he was right, that I really was about to pass out. My heart was hammering and my hands were shaking, and my nerves were getting the best of me.
“It’s okay,” he said. “It’s okay to be nervous. It’s going to be okay.”
I nodded at him. “Yeah. I’m good.”
His hand remained on my thigh. “I’ll be with you the whole way,” he said.
I nodded at his hand. “Keep it business between us,” I said.
He smirked and moved his hand. “Just trying to help.”
“Help without touching.”
He laughed and shook his head. “You’re welcome, princess.”
I opened my mouth to give him a biting reply, but at that exact moment the doors to the inner chapel opened. A group of drunk-looking people spilled out, smiling and laughing.
I watched as they slowly left the waiting room. The bride and groom looked so happy, and the people around them were clearly having a great time. They actually looked like they were in love.
I glanced at Nash and he nodded at me. I didn’t love him, not at all. We didn’t have anybody with us, no friends or family.
It was not how I had imagined my wedding would be.
An older man in a chaplain’s outfit stood in the doorway to the inner chapel and smiled at Nash and me.
“Are you two ready?” he asked.
Nash stood up. “Sure.”
“Right this way,” he said, and disappeared inside.
Nash held his hand out to me. “You ready, wife?”
I stared at his big, rough hand for a minute. If I took it and stood, I knew I’d go through with it.
Or, I could smack it away and run. I could run outside, get a cab, and be done with this whole crazy thing. I didn’t have to go in there at all, didn’t have to marry him.
This was my choice. He wasn’t forcing me; nobody was.
Nash looked at me expectantly.
My heart did flip-flops in my chest.
10
Nash
I stood across from Selena at the top of the chapel as the old guy did his thing.
I wasn’t listening and didn’t care. The chapel had a few people sitting around, acting as witnesses, and they looked about as bored as I felt.
But the only thing I was interested in was Selena. That fucking dress she was wearing was driving me crazy. I couldn’t help but look at her breasts, her lips, and she definitely noticed. She smiled, and that only made my cock that much harder. I didn’t know how many people got fucking hard at their wedding, but there I was ready to fuck Selena senseless.
And I wasn’t going to get any on my damn wedding night.
“Do you, Nash Bell, take her as your lawfully wedded wife?” the old guy asked.
I glanced at him. “Sure,” I grunted.
He smiled. “And do you, Selena Wood, take him as your lawfully wedded husband?”